26 years ago Dilip and Manali Vengsarkar ‘lost their independence' and yet they share the glow that comes from sailing through storm fronts.
After 26 years together, these lyrics couldn’t ring truer for Dilip and Manali Vengsarkar
26 years ago, on the 15th of August, Dilip and Manali Vengsarkar ‘lost their independence.’ A silver jubilee and two children later, they share the glow that comes from sailing through storm fronts to dock in the harbour of contentment.
With a brand new jewellery line for the Ghanasingh Signature Collection and a squad selection of ‘jewels’ ready to take on 16 rival countries for the cricket world cup, the usually reticent couple indulge in a candid heart to heart.
Dilip Vengsarkar
The first piece of jewellery you bought Manali…
It was her engagement ring. She made the ring, I paid for it. Then twice a year I bought her jewellery as she’s very fond of it. I keep telling her to buy clothes or something else because jewellery is a very expensive hobby!
First piece of jewellery Manali gave you…
The engagement ring… [Manali cuts in] No Dilip! No! Oh ya, ya, she gave me a gold chain with a ‘D’ locket. I remember! I wore that for ten years while I played for India.
The most special jewel you gave her…
[Manali cuts in] My first solitaire which he gave me on our tenth anniversary. Yes. I insisted she get a big rock and the two-and-a-half carat solitaire was her first.
A jewel you would like to gift her…
I don’t understand much about jewellery but I keep telling her to not buy too many little things… [Manali cuts in] He likes big rocks! Whatever she buys should be timeless and classy, though now prices have gone very high!
Thoughts on her career…
She’s been working very hard for the last 20 years. She’s very committed and sits for hours perfecting a design. It’s been good for her to be occupied.
I keep telling her that now is the time for us to enjoy each other as the children have grown up, but she’s so involved with her work that she has no time for me!
The most precious jewel in your life is…
My family — my wife and my children.
Staying together for 25 years involves…
She has always been there for the children. That really helped us and they’ve grown into wonderful adults. [Manali cuts in] Striking the perfect balance, giving each other space and letting the other person grow.
You can’t be selfish and say ‘I want you here now’. Let each other be — that’s the secret, and trust and love.
5 jewels in India’s world cup team are…
To be honest I have 15 jewels in the team! The world cup is a huge event for us and selecting the best guys is difficult but necessary. We have the potential to win and if we pick the right ones the team will shine.
My top 5 are Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, Zaheer Khan and MS Dhoni.
Manali Vengsarkar
Your first impression of Dilip was…
Tall, dark and handsome! I saw him at Mumbai airport when I was travelling with my mom and I described him in great detail to her down to his shirt! She actually asked me ‘Are you in love with the shirt or the guy’!
[Dilip cuts in] In those days I used to wear a rope of tiny wooden and ivory beads wrapped around my throat. Ya! I was totally sold out on everything about him — those beads, his dimples, his shirt, his wrist — everything! It was just him.
Your first cricket memory of Dilip…
The first match he invited me for when he was playing. I went there, didn’t understand a thing, got a sunstroke and came home in two hours!
Thoughts on his career…
It’s been brilliant. Ever since he started playing at the age of 19, his graph has always been on the up. After we got married, I was there to support him though he didn’t need that kind of support because he was good at what he did. But I was and am very proud to be his wife.
Your advice to young cricket wives…
Today’s girls are far more mature than we were. I got married when I was 20! I think the wives should do their own thing and give their husbands space to do what they do best.
At the end of the day they are representing the country and the aspirations of over a billion people. The wives should have their own identities rather than be in their husbands’ shadow.
Your message to Dilip...
I’m still crazy about you after all these years. There’s still the same excitement when you come home and the same longing when you’re away.
v_shabana@dnaindia.net
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}